Our Discoveries

Cells’ decision to divide is reversible

Surprising findings show that cells that are preparing to divide can return to a resting state if they lose growth signals, even after they have passed what was previously thought to be a point of no return.

Drug combination provides a one-two punch attack against colorectal cancer

Researchers have identified a drug that, when combined with TOP1 inhibitors, results in improved efficacy in human colorectal cancer models — a finding that may apply to other cancers treated with TOP1 inhibitors. The results also yield important insights into our basic understanding of DNA replication and repair.

Targeting sugar-molecule tags to proteins in the treatment of aggressive lymphomas

CCR researchers, led by Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., have discovered a novel approach to treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with potentially fewer treatment-related side effects. Their work identifies and exploits the role of sugar-molecule modifications in B-cell survival.

With new database, NCATS data is poised to support development of precision cancer therapies

Data from thousands of compounds and nearly 200 cancer cell lines screened at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences are available through a new CellMiner database.

Immunofluorescence image shows CD4+ (green) and CD8+ (yellow) T cells in the microenvironment of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

How immunotherapy before surgery boosts systemic immunity in head and neck cancer

Some evidence suggests that immunotherapy before surgery to remove head and neck tumors can decrease the chances of cancer recurrence, but the reasons for this observation are unknown. New research details how the treatment regimen boosts the number and dispersion of tumor-fighting immune cells throughout the body.

NIH study finds that immunotherapy substantially increases survival of people with lymphomatoid granulomatosis

Results from a clinical trial conducted by CCR researchers show that people with low-grade lymphomatoid granulomatosis who are treated with interferon-alpha, a type of immunotherapy, can live for decades after diagnosis. Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a rare precancerous condition triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection. The findings suggest that immunotherapy can prevent the progression of low-grade disease to high-grade disease, which has a poorer prognosis and can quickly turn into an aggressive and fatal B-cell lymphoma.

Cancer cells that die via apoptosis (larger dark purple structures) expel their nuclear contents (orange and yellow stringy structures) to spur metastasis and growth of living cancer cells (smaller light blue structures). Image credit: Yang Lab

Signals released from dying cancer cells accelerate metastatic tumor growth

The final act of a dying cancer cell may be to spur the growth of other cancer cells.

A high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) image showing multiple conformations of identical RNA sequences. Image credit: Wang Lab

Researchers discover the multiple shapes of RNA, a boon for drug design

Using atomic force microscopy, CCR researchers directly observed individual RNA structures in cell-like conditions. They found that one primary RNA sequence can fold into many different conformations, which has important implications for the fundamental understanding of RNA and RNA-targeted drug design.

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer which is difficult to treat. Image credit: iStock

A rare look into what makes mesothelioma aggressive, and potentially treatable

Scientists have a limited understanding of mesothelioma and how to treat it effectively, but that’s beginning to change. In a novel study, CCR researchers identified a 48-gene signature associated with a worse prognosis – but also identified a subset of patients who respond to certain immunotherapy and chemotherapy drugs.

Lung cancer cells fluorescently labeled for MYC (red), MYCL (green) and chromosomes (blue) to identify MYC- and MYCL-positive ecDNA in the cells.

Extrachromosomal DNA promotes aggressiveness of small cell lung cancer

Cancers harboring small particles of DNA that exist outside of chromosomes, called extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), are associated with aggressive tumor growth, drug resistance, and shorter patient survival. New research shows that ecDNAs in small cell lung cancer contribute to variability between cancer cells, allowing them to rapidly evolve and leading to these undesirable outcomes.

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